300 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO One of "Johnny Appleseed's" largest nurseries was located in Butler township, on the island in the Mohican creek. He spent much time among the settlers, talking religion and fruit growing, his two hobbies. Many of the thrifty orchards of a quarter of a century ago, in Butler township, had the mark of his early horticultural efforts. What was known as the Griffin mill was operated many years by Robert Griffin. This was the second mill in the township, and it is related that two men went to this mill with a peck of shelled corn each. They put the corn in the hopper and turned on the water by lifting the gate over the wheel, hut, while the mill seemed to be running, no meal came into the sack. After an investigation. it was discovered that a large live bull frog had planted himself in the bottom of the hopper, and hence the corn could not run down into the buhrs. The milling interests of this township, in common with those all over Knox county, have materially changed since those early times. The first postoffice in Butler township was established in 1817. Abraham Darling was the first postmaster. The office was then styled "Owl Creek." This office was, after a number of years, discontinued and one established at Green Valley Mills called "Zuck," named for one of the mill owners, Stephen Zuck. There are no regular villages in this township. People trade at Mt. Vernon, Bladensburg or New Castle. The present history, as well as past, of churches, lodges and schools will be found in the general chapters on such topics. In 1910 the United States census gave Butler township a population of five hundred and ninety, less than in the two previous decades. CHAPTER XXIII. BERLIN TOWNSHIP. Named after a town called Berlin, in Connecticut, this township was given its name by Stephen Cole. The township was created June 4, 1822, by the county commissioners and then embraced very much more territory than it does today. The first election was held at the house of Michael Harter, on June 22d. The territory was reduced to its present limits March 9, 1825. The wording of the record concerning this is : "Berlin shall be composed of the eighth township of the thirteenth range, except the sixth and seventh sections in said township eighteen." It first belonged to Wayne, but afterward included the territory of Pike, before receiving an independent existence. Its north line is the southern line of Richland county. The Greenville treaty line, located by General Wayne at the close of the long Indian war in 1795, passes through the northern part of this township. It is a mile to the north of Ankeny-town. The Baltimore & Ohio railroad runs through this township, from northeast to southwest. The East fork of Owl creek also passes through about parallel with the railroad. The west branch of Schneck's creek, a tributary of the Kokosing river, rises in the northwest corner of the township, and many fine springs of pure cooling water may be found in different parts of the township. At an early day immense forests abounded. Hard woods of almost all descriptions were to be seen growing in all their glory and thriftiness. This tells the story of the present productiveness of the soil in the township, for wherever grows the black walnut, sugar tree, beech and hickory, there the soil can be depended upon for the growth of immense crops. When white men first invaded this solitude there was not an open space sufficiently large on which to erect a house. All was one vast forest and this filled up with a rank growth of underbrush and weeds. It was an ideal place for wild game and known as the hunter's paradise for a number of years. No Indians lived here. but frequently hunted in the locality. Old Toby was here when white men came and established his wigwam on what came to be known as Toby's run. He remained until about the date of the war of 1812 and left for other parts. An account of the work of the prehistoric race, the Mound Builders, in Berlin township is given in the chapter on geology and topography. 302 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. FIRST SETTLEMENT BY WHITE MEN. It belongs to old Bedford county, Pennsylvania. to have the distinction of furnishing this township with its first settlers. The Markleys, of whom Henry came to these parts in 18o8, erecting the first cabin in the township, as now defined. James McIntire later owned the land on which he squatted. He was accompanied by John Brown, Sr. Markley purchased a thousand acres of land, on the north side of the Ellicott section, this occupying one-fourth of the entire township. His family consisted of wife, three sons and two daughters. Brown's family consisted of wife, three sons and a daughter. The sons were Jeremiah, Thomas and John Brown. Others who came in for permanent settlement were Amos H. Royce. the first justice of the peace. who came to Fredericktown in 1809 and to Berlin township in 1810. He was born in Connecticut. removed with his father to New York state and from there to Knox county. He attained an extreme old age, being ninety-four years of age in 1881 and lived several years thereafter. His father was a Revolutionary soldier, and for his military services received the land warrants which the son made such good use of in Berlin township. Amos served in the war of 1812 and was with General Hull a short time before his surrender. He aided in building the blockhouse at Mansfield. Another important family was the Leedys. There were five brothers. John, Jacob, Abraham, Samuel and Daniel. This family originated in Switzerland, then members of the family found their way to Maryland and from thence to Bedford county, Pennsylvania. The following were pioneers in this goodly township : Stephen Cole. Ed. and Isaac N. Richardson, George Wolford, James Fraer, John C. Brown. John and Peter Kreigher, Frederick Ogg, Jeremiah Brown, Richard and Israel Roberts, John Long. Joseph Lane. Daniel and Joseph Hetrick, the Joslyns, John Moltzbaugh, the Wrights, Farquhars. Pinkleys, William Van Horn, Peter Woolf, David McDaniel, Michael Harter, John Lewis, Casper Fitting and some others whose names are now forgotten. E. Richardson removed West, but his brother became a judge and a man of great influence in this county. Many of these men located on lands that are still retained in their descendants' names. These first families naturally intermarried and reared many children. The township then developed from. this beginning. Uncle Richard Roberts, as all knew him, was a very clever man and a great story-teller. Nothing so delighted him as to be seated about his own fireside and talk of the early days and years in Berlin township. The cabin. KNOX COUNTY, OHIO - 303 the big log fire and such surroundings as that made him wake up to the things that he had passed through and he spun many a well-told romance of pioneer life to his children and visiting friends. Another character was a Frenchman named Celestial LeBlond. His name was entered in the poll books as "Celestial Light." He built the Shaler mills, in which he failed and later removed to Bellville. Michael Harter, brother-in-law of Henry Markley, the first settler, came to the township about 1808-09 and erected a log house on the crossing from Mt. Vernon to Mansfield and from Columbus to Wooster. "Harter's Tavern" became a famous stopping place. All the early elections were held there. The militia also trained there and of course made his place a headquarters. It was known as the best hotel in northern Ohio. It was Harter who planted the first orchard in Knox county. He was buried in the orchard, just to the east of his hotel. Markley was a merchant, farmer and early county commissioner. The second tavern keeper in this township was Jacob Switzer. He conducted a hotel until the railroad times, when it went into decay. Shaler's Mills, a half mile to the east of the present village of Ankeny-town, was among the first in the township. The first postoffice was also located at this point about 1844. J. M. Robinson was the first postmaster. Following him came postmaster H. W. Gregor, who held the office a third of a century. It was conducted at his general store at Ankenytown. Maple Grove postoffice was established in 1849. with Richard Roberts as postmaster. This office was discontinued in 1860. Amos Royce erected the first paying saw mill in the township. It stood where now stands the village of Ankenytown. Several saw mills were built on the same stream, but as the country settled up the water was not sufficient to propel the mills and they were abandoned. VILLAGE OF PALMYRA. For many years Palmyra was the only town in this township. It was platted in 1835. Before that a tavern had been located there, also a post-office and a grocery store. Finally when the railroad came through the county, its doom was sealed. VILLAGE OF ANKENYTOWN. The original owner of the land where Ankenytown now stands was Aaron Bull, a Revolutionary soldier, who located lands with his warrant 304 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. received for his services in that war. Sylvester Clark was one of the earliest settlers there. He married Bull's daughter and came on to occupy the wild lands in company with his father-in-law. The mill already mentioned was the germinating factor of the village and when the railroad was constructed through, an elevator was erected by Warner Miller, who also put in a general store, with H. W. Gregor in charge of both. George Ankenytown came on from Pennsylvania about that time and bought a small piece of land of Abram Leedy, and built a blacksmith shop on it. Ankenytown was named for him, he being an excellent man and enterprising citizen. Mr. Broiler, who had purchased the Shaler Mills, also put in a stock of goods about 1840. He failed and was succeeded by J. M. Robinson, who sold to H. W. Gregor about 1851. When the railroad went through some of the near-by farmers' cattle were run over and killed. The farmers gathered together and tore up the track and this ended in a big suit at the county seat. They believed that the thing might happen frequently and as they had no stock to spare thought they might save them in this manner. The population of Berlin township in 1830 was 520 ; in 1840 it was 1,100; in 1850, 1,155; in 1860, 1,200 ; 1870. it had 887; in 1910 it had only 700, having fallen off at both the census periods after 1870. The church, lodge and school history of the township will be found in their respective chapters in this volume. A postoffice known as Shaler's Mills was established in the forties or early in the fifties, which was at Shaler's mills, near the present village of Ankenytown. From 1876 the postmasters have been H. McGregor, who had held the office in connection with his country store for very many years; then came John Hartshorn, G. A. Welker, J. R. Beal, A. P. Berger and the present postmaster, J. R. Beal. One mail each way is received daily. The business of this office amounts to about two hundred and twelve dollars annually. In September, 1910, the office was robbed of considerable, the same being made good to the postmaster one year later. The office was kept in Mr. Beal's store, as it is yet ; the same store was robbed June 27, 1911, but the effects of the postoffice not materially disturbed. Ankenytown has two good general stores. There are also a blacksmith shop and grain elevator. The dealers are J. R. Beal, general merchandise. who established the business in 1879, and W. H. Leedy. who came in 1903. The elevator was erected in 1906, burned and was rebuilt in 1907 by Saylor Bros. C. S. Swank was the first in the grain business here. Wilson Browning is the village blacksmith. The only church within the village is that of the Brethren, who erected a church in 1882. Another of the same denomination, practically, is found a short distance out of the village, but in Berlin township. CHAPTER XXIV. CLAY TOWNSHIP. Clay township is situated on the south county line, west from Jackson, south of Harrison and east from Morgan townships. Martinsburg is located within Clay township. It derived its short name from that illustrious political character, Henry Clay, the great Whig standard bearer. It was organized as a separate township in the spring of 1825, being organized properly on March 9th of that year from a part of Morgan township. The township is of an uneven surface, except in the northern portion where it is level, even and fertile prairie land. A branch of the Wakatomika crosses the northeastern portion of the township, and Big run the northwestern part. Paul's run, in the southern part, runs from east to west. Originally, this township was heavily timbered, with oak and hickory predominating. While the settlers have cut away much of the forest, there still remains enough for home use. In the northern part of this township several large mounds exist, the largest covering about two acres. When discovered it was entirely covered by a heavy growth of timber. Of later years Charles Murray owned the land about this mound. These are supposed to be the same as elsewhere described in this volume, and were the work of a prehistoric race of people. Probably Levi Harrod was the first settler in this township. He came from Greene county, Pennsylvania, to Knox county in 1808, first settling in Clinton township, near Mt. Vernon. He belonged to seven families who located in this county at that date. These were all related by marriage or otherwise and comprised the colony made up of the Leonards, Haines, Mills, Knights, Peter Baxter and the Harrods. Levi Harrod removed to Clay township before the war of 1812. When he came in this township was nothing more than a wilderness and was literally teeming with wild animals. Upon the land he entered he frequently found elk horns and buffalo skulls. Stephen Cook, another pioneer in this section of Knox county, came from Pennsylvania. He first settled in Morgan township in 1814. He moved from one place to another and really cleared up three farms from the dense forests of Knox county. He died in Clay township in 1870. He was an elder in the Presbyterian church many years. He believed in prayer, and (20) 306 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. this meant the practical sort of petitions, as may be inferred by the following which it is related he prayed for : "Having no pasture fields cleared, his horses, cattle and sheep ran in the woods, with bells upon their necks. Once one of these bells was lost, and there being no store nearer than Mt. 'Vernon, he was very anxious to find it. As he was going through the wilderness to a neighbor's one day. he was heard to pray earnestly that he might be directed to find the lost bell, and suddenly his foot caught the mouth of the bell. He always contended that was the direct result of his prayer." Cornelius Barkalow, a native of Virginia, came with his father to Knox county in 1804. After living in Licking county until 1812, the family removed to Knox county, settling in Clay township, on section 15. At that time there were but few neighbors within the township. Wild animals and Indian bands were seen on almost every hand about him. Young Barka-low's playmates were Indian girls and boys. He was still residing in Clay township in the eighties. an honored old man. John McWilliams came to the township in 1818, from Belmont county. He was born in Ohio county, Virginia, in 1798. He first settled on government land near Martinsburg, where he carried on farming half a century. He was a member of the Presbyterian church fifty years and a deacon for forty-one years. Ezekiel Boggs, who died in 1853, was another old settler in Clay. He came from Belmont county. Ohio, and served as a member of the Ohio Legislature. His son, Coleman. was a successful teacher. Ziba Leonard accompanied his father from Greene county, Pennsylvania, in 1804. The father settled in Clinton township, this county. He attended the first funeral in the county, and was present at the first wedding. a double one, the marriage being that of his two sisters. Mr. Leonard was a good house carpenter and built many of the residences in and near Martinsburg. Politically, he was a Whig, later a Republican and still later went over to the Prohibition party. He came to Clay township in 1831 and was long an honored and devoted member of the Presbyterian church. James Cook came to the township in 1817 and was prominent in the affairs of the Presbyterian church more than half a century. In 1881 the oldest person in Clay township was James Sims, born in Maryland in 1792 and settled in Clay township in 1835. Other pioneers who helped to develop this goodly township were Abner Brown, Jacob Smith, David Harrison, James Pitney, John Huston, James Paul, Abraham Day, James Larason, Nathan Veach, Samuel P0rterfield. Robert Dillon, Michael Mills. John Culp, Luther Brown, Samuel Ross, James KNOX COUNTY, OHIO - 307 Hayes, William Henry, James Carr, John Williams, John Reagh, Jonathan Curtis. Aaron Conger, Philemon Pierson. This township is unfortunate in being situated where it was too rough and hilly to procure systems of railroads. Also the streams were too small to propel mills of any considerable size. Outside of the village of Martinsburg there never were any mills. The whole territory was devoted to agriculture and stock raising. The population of the township of Clay in 1910 was 838, including Martinsburg, which had about 250 people when this census was taken. MARTINSBURG VILLAGE. This is the only platted place within Clay township and dates its history from 1828, before which time it was called Williamsburg and Hanover, the street dividing the place into two villages. In 1828 a consolidation was effected and the name Martinsburg given to it. James Pollock erected the first building in the village. I. D. Johnson, who opened the first store, came in from Richland county in 1818. As the country settled up his business grew immensely. until it was said at one time no other store in Knox county surpassed his at Martinsburg. He bought large quantities of wool, pork and tobacco, carted the same to Newark and then shipped from that city to the Eastern markets. He was a liberal member of the Presbyterian church and died several nears after he moved from the village. The Beckwith Brothers opened a general store about 1824, and continued to do a thriving business many years. Solomon Cook conducted the pioneer hotel of Martinsburg. A horse-power mill was put in operation at a very early day in Martinsburg. Enos Beckwith was the man who saw the immediate need of this milling industry and did what he could to help the farmers round about. The next mill was operated by steam power, built by Slocum Bunker. The first village blacksmith was O. Drake. In 1880 the federal census gave Martinsburg about three hundred population. At that date the business factors of the place included two stores. conducted by Cline and Tilton Brothers: a hotel, by Isaac Simpson a harness shop. by James Snyder, and a meat shop. by Conn Simpson and Hugh Boyd: four blacksmiths, a tailor shop and three doctors. Drs. Miser, Toland and Shrauntz. The postmistress was Miss Hettie Kerr. The history of the educational and religious element will be found under headings of churches and schools in this volume. Several destructive fires have occurred at Martinsburg, one in 1850. another in 1854. In both cases business blocks were consumed, and the 308 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. village never resumed its normal condition. The business is no greater than it was seventy years ago. The village was incorporated in the seventies. A small portion of the village of Bladensburg is within Clay township, but its history will appear in the history of that township, hence is omitted in this chapter. The postoffice at Martinsburg is a fourth-class office, located in Tilton block, second door west of the public square. It was established when the town was laid out and called Hanover, then Williamsburg. It is claimed by pioneers' children that it is among the oldest in Knox county, as mail was received here a few years after the first settlement was effected. Dr. Hervey's institution of learning was founded here in 1808, and there was a postoffice then. Back in the forties and fifties mail was received by a horseback carrier, once a week from Columbus. Among those who kept this office are the following: Wesley Spratt, 1846, in the east end of the present Devoe house ; Judge McCreary. 1854. in a log building where now stands the Presbyterian parsonage ; William McWilliams. on what is now the park ; Judge McCreary, the second time ; Alexander Kerr, Miss Hester Kerr, Mrs. E. E. Kerr, John W. Tilton, October, 1909. in the Tilton dry goods store ; Ella B. Honnold, May, 1910, to the present time. The office has been in the hands of the Kerr family for over forty years. It is now on a star route from Utica, established fifty years ago. June 15, 1905, one rural route was established from this office. One mail is received each morning from Bladensburg and one from Utica in the after part of each day. The business of Martinsburg, in October, 1911. was in the hands of the following persons: Mrs. C. A. Tilton, leading dry goods store ; Messrs. Laughlin & Berger, dry goods and groceries; Harry Dean and J. M. Hancock each conduct a. hardware business; Miss Jennie Dean, millinery ; J. M. Hancock, meat shop ; Frank Kearns, tin shop; William McMillen, carpenter shop; S. B. Dodd, saw and flouring mill ; T. L. Humphrey and Frank Megaw. blacksmiths. An agricultural experimental station is located on the farm of S. B. Dodd, a fourth of a mile from the village. A. B. Deal is a nurseryman and gardener. The village has a public library and the Clay township building is within Martinsburg. The Odd Fellows have their own hall and the village council another meeting hall. The hotel is now conducted by Mr. Darling. This concludes the list, aside from a small restaurant by William Farmer. The churches of Martinsburg are the Presbyterian. Methodist Episcopal, Baptist and Disciples. The physicians of the village are Drs. John F. Shrontz, William E. Shrontz and N. S. Toland. CHAPTER XXV. CLINTON TOWNSHIP. Clinton is one of the four original townships in Knox county. The county commissioners, it will be remembered, cut the county into four civil townships May 2, 1808, when they ordered the following: "That the following hounds be laid off into a separate township: Beginning at the northwest corner of Wayne township; thence east to the west side of the eleventh range ; thence south to the center of the township; thence west to the west line of the twelfth range ; thence south to the south line of the county, which shall be called by the name of Clinton." As thus constituted, the township embraced Bloomfield (now in Morrow county), Liberty, the north half of Pleasant, Monroe, Pike and the south half of Morris townships. After many changes, on March 9, 1825, the commissioners ordered : "That Clinton township shall be composed of the sixth township in the thirteenth range." This gives the domain about twenty-five square miles, which territory is watered and \yell drained by the Owl creek and its numerous small tributaries. FIRST SETTLEMENT. Andrew Craig, who was the first settler of Knox county, was of course the first to locate within Clinton township. He came from the mountain regions of Old Virginia. He was a bold, rough frontiersman. He was a hunter of note and fond of wild sports and would rather live near the Indian trail than among white people. He located on Owl creek in probably about 1801-2, not later certainly. When Benjamin and John Butler were exploring this county in 1801, they found this rugged man living with a woman he had brought from Wheeling. He liked Indian life and was a friend of the Delawares. They were having a pow-wow when the Butler brothers came to the Little Indian Fields. This home of the first settler was a half mile to the east of present Mt. Vernon. But he could not endure the white race and their lawful usages. so in 1809 he moved to Greentown to be among the Indian people. Henry Haines, of the Pennsylvania colony, came to Knox county in 1803 or 1804, locating in the Ten-Mile Settlement. He was among the best 310 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. men in the county in those times. He was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania; was a man of education and property. He also had great mechanical ingenuity and had a turning lathe which he used in fashioning many a domestic article. He was appointed the first county treasurer (under the appointive system), holding the office up to 1815. He became deranged on the subject of religion, an account of which will be found at another place in this. chapter. Robert Thompson, from Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, ascended the waters of Owl creek in 1804, and chose for his abiding place a point two miles west of the present public square in Mt. Vernon. He was a land surveyor and in July, 1805, was employed by Butler, Patterson & Walker to survey out the new town of Mt. Vernon. He spent the greater part of his life on his farm, and his hones, with those of his excellent wife, now repose on a little knoll east of the old homestead. Moses Craig, who married a daughter of Robert Thompson, came in at the same time Thompson settled here. Peter Baxter was one of the original settlers in the Haines settlement, and was a member of the first jury impaneled in Knox county. This was the jury that convicted William Hedrick, who was publicly whipped for stealing. Isaac Bennett came to Clinton township in 1805, locating north, on the old Delaware road, and built there the first brick house in the township. Later it was occupied by Albert Sharp. In 1805 the Leonard family arrived and the last will and testament of William Leonard was the first recorded in Knox county. Matthew Merritt, from Washington county, Pennsylvania, came in 1806. He was the foreman for the first grand jury in the county, and in 1808 was elected county commissioner of the county. He also served as a justice of the peace in 1809. The Beams, Lafevers and Walkers were early corners, but their history will be given in the city chapter on Mt. Vernon, which is within Clinton township. Ebenezer and Abner Brown came in from Pennsylvania in 1804, locating in the Haines settlement and built the first grist mill in Knox county. treated at length elsewhere. Outside of the city limits, Clinton township had a population of nine hundred and twenty-six in 1880. Its 1910 enumeration shows its population to be two thousand one hundred twelve. For various interesting historic points of this township, including county-seat contest, the reader is referred to other chapters. KNOX COUNTY, OHIO - 311 CLINTON TOWNSHIP TRAGEDIES. Among the revolting crimes of an earlier day in Clinton township the following have been vouched for by those who are in a position to know the principal facts : On the point of the bluff between Center run and Owl creek, in 1800, was enacted a tragedy worth recording in these county annals, the same ending, as it did, in the killing of two persons, one a white man and the other a mulatto slave. Two slaves had escaped from their master, one Tomlinson, who lived in Virginia, and, coming into this state, took up with the squaws. Their masters tracked them through Zanesville and up the Owl creek, finally spotted them at the first settler's house, that of Andy Craig. One of the boys, a mulatto, recognized his master's son, as he approached with two other men, and sprang to the bank of the creek and threw himself into the stream. He was followed by his pursuers, who overtook him in the middle of the stream, and there a deadly struggle took place, in which he killed his young master, but was then overpowered, taken to the hut, tied, and shortly afterwards placed on the horse his young master had ridden, and the party started for Virginia with him. The second night after leaving Craig's place, they built a fire and left the mulatto tied by it, when they went out for game. On their return he was found to have been shot. It was believed that they had become tired of him, and as he was surly and troublesome, he was killed out of revenge for the loss of young Tomlinson. The slave who made his escape was, years later, found in Upper Sandusky, living with a squaw, and he verified the above statement, so far as he was knowing to the facts. RELIGIOUSLY INSANE. This was the case of Henry Haines, former treasurer of Knox county (the first by appointment), and who stood high in the walks of life. He was a leading member in the Christian church, then styled "New Lights." He became a loud exhorter and, being deranged, secured a large tin horn and rode around day and nights, notifying the people to prepare for the judgment clay, which was soon to come. This he proclaimed when sane and insane. When he became ungovernable he was taken to Dr. R. D. Moore, who confined him in straight jacket (mad-shirt), and treated him for several weeks, until he seemed restored to reason ; but he said if ever he became insane again he would kill Dr. Moore. Soon the doctor moved to Fayette county, Pennsylvania. Haines again became deranged, and was missed by his friends and relations. The first they heard of him was through a communication from 312 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. Dr. Moore. Haines had made his way to Connellsville, Pennsylvania, for the purpose of killing Dr. Moore, and had stolen the family silverware to pay his way. Upon his arrival at the Doctor's city. he had again become quite rational, but told the Doctor his former intentions. The Doctor cared for him a few days, or possibly weeks, then provided means for him to go home. In the summer of 1817 the tin horn had ceased to he heard on the streets of Mt. Vernon for several nights. Haines had left home once more. Word was brought to town that Haines was missing, and fears were entertained that 'he had made way with himself. He was searched for all day Sunday and it was not until late in the afternoon that he was discovered suspended by the neck from the limb of a tree a quarter of a mile from his residence on the Merritt farm. Thus ended the poor man's troubles. AN INDIAN MURDER. The publication at Mt. Vernon, known as the Ohio Register, dated May 7. 1817, had the following concerning an Indian murder in Clinton township : "Some day last week a small party of Indians, principally of the Mohawk tribe, arrived in this place for the purpose of trading off their cranberries, etc., to the white people. They encamped on the west side of Owl creek, and remained there in apparent harmony until Friday last, when that arch enemy of the civilized and savage (whisky) made its appearance among them. It appears that two of the Indians having become rather `cockoosey,' began scuffling with each other through, diversion, when a third (more intoxicated than the others) interfered, fell upon Jim Wyandott, who took the rough salutations of his adversary in good part until it became too severe. when he informed him that they two had only been diverting themselves : but the murderer, disregarding the protestations of the deceased, fell upon him with greater fury, armed with a tomahawk, scalping knife and club, and finally succeeded in killing Wyandott by giving him a blow in the breast with his club. It appears that Wyandott, when he found that forbearance had ceased to be a virtue, made a strong resistance—but in vain! The murderer belongs to the Delaware tribe, and we are informed that this is the second homicide he has committed. He decamped the next morning. "We cannot here omit to mention that a gentleman of this town, with a humane generosity which does him much honor, presented the friends of the deceased Indian with a good coffin for their red brother:" CHAPTER XXVI. COLLEGE TOWNSHIP. In some ways College township is a peculiar sub-division of Knox county. It includes the northeast quarter of what was originally Pleasant township, contains four thousand acres, was owned by William Hogg, of Pennsylvania, and sold to Bishop Chase of the Episcopal church and then turned over to that society and Kenyon College was located thereon. Ten years later the tract of land was set off by the Ohio state Legislature as a separate township to be known as "College," and this exists today. Originally this land was a dense forest. The spot where now stands the magnificent buildings of Kenyon College was somewhat open, owing to wind storms that passed over that portion of the township. Much of the history of this township is included in the chapter written especially on the college, by President Peirce. The fertile valley lands here have been under a good state of cultivation since the war of 1812-14, the first settlers being known as "squatters." They really owned no land or much other property, but lived by hunting, fishing and tilling a small clearing in the forests. As late as 1829 but a small portion of the land—that in the bottoms-had been touched by the plowshare of true civilized life. From the hilltop to the east line of the township all was one dense forest of sugar maple, hickory and black walnut timber. Near a large spring, at a very early date, was located a distillery. This was to the northeast of present Milner Hall of the famous Kenyon College buildings. There were no roads, but paths and trails that had been blazed through the timber, every one of which led to this distillery. Such was the condition of affairs in this township in the days when Bishop Chase purchased the lands. In 1830 things had so changed that the still-house was used for a wash house for the students of the college. This good man was a strong temperance advocate when it took sand to be outspoken. but he discarded every vestige of the liquor business from his college tract. The reason this township was separated from Pleasant township was on account of its being unhandy for the settlement to go so far to vote. The petition to the Legislature to have this made a separate township was dated December 21, 1838, at least that was when the first election in the new precinct was held, at the house of public entertainment in Gambier village, kept 314 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. by Mordecai W. Vore. The early elections were attended by from twenty to thirty voters, the major part of whom were connected as officers and teachers of the college. G. W. Meyers was one of the earlier settlers in this township and was elected treasurer of the same, after it had been duly organized. He was a printer and book-binder and he it was who contributed much towards the preserving of records and sustaining the library established at the college. For many years he was associated with the Acland Press. The printing office was the generous gift of the liberal and enlightened English Protestants to Bishop Chase, in 1825, and received its name in honor of Lady Acland, the fair donor who started the subscription. Upon this have been published various literary and religious articles calculated to advance the cause of learning and religion. VILLAGE OF GAMBIER. This is the only town within the limits of College township and is a college village pure and simple. It was laid out in 1845, long after the good Bishop departed, but there had been several attempts at conducting stores and shops there before that date. The old college mill erected by Bishop Chase went into decay and a new, very superior mill was placed on the site of it by Daniel S. Norton, known as the Kenyon mills, which were situated on and derived power from the Kokosing river. Bishop Chase succeeded in having a postoffice established at Gambier in 1832, the earliest postmaster being M. T. C. Wing, who kept it many years. Other postmasters and postmistresses have been Benoni Elliott, a student from the District of Columbia, was appointed in 1846, served three years, when Wing again received the appointment, and was followed in 1853 by James Young. E. J. Riley was appointed in 1857, and in 1861 came Joseph Leonard, who in turn gave way to Mrs. Fearns, who was still in charge of the postoffice in 1881. Since that date have been the following: Edward Riley and Joseph Leonard (before the Civil war), Mrs. L. Andrews, Mrs. S. J. Fearns, Mary Trimble, E. 0. Young, E. P. Webster, H. M. Jacobs. The rural routes were established as follows: No. 1, in December, 1900; Nos. 2 and 3, in October, 1902. The postoffice was burglarized in July, 1905, and in November, 1910. There are six daily mails each way at Gambier. The amount of business transacted at this office (other than money order work) was three thousand three hundred dollars. The Gambier Observer was established in 1838. In later years it was known as the Western Episcopalian and was purely a church and religious organ. KNOX COUNTY, OHIO - 315 The first religious services in Gambier were held by Bishop Chase, under the broad and spreading branches of native forest trees, and most of these present were in his employ. Harcourt parish (named for an English nobleman) was organized in June, 1827. See church history for more along the line of early and present churches here, especially of this Episcopal denomination. A Congregational church was formed here in 1867; a Methodist church in 1832, or earlier. The population of Gambier village in 1910 was 548, two hundred less than in 1900. The population of College township in 1900 was, including Gambier, 983, but its enumeration of 1910 shows but 769. The present business of Gambier is in the hands of the following persons : Hotel, the Kenyon, by Mrs. H. Wellman; gentlemen's goods, A. R. Martin; shoes, L. A. Jacobs ; drugs, C. R. Jackson; general dealers, C. G. Scott & Son, S. R. Doolittle; groceries, G. W. McNabb, Purdy & Striker; meats, 0. G. Rowley; restaurant and bakery, Jacobs & Snow; physicians, Dr. John Claypool, A. D. Welker, Joseph Wagner; merchant tailor, C. G. Singer ; blacksmiths, R. D. Woolison, H. J. Woolison, William Beeman; undertakers, S. R. Martin; livery, L. Vernon; lumber and grain, Thompson Bros.; hay, grain and coal, A. L. Blue. The churches of Gambier are the Protestant Episcopal and the Methodist Episcopal. While Gambier never has aspired to being a hustling, busy commercial mart, it has, and does still, boast of being one of the finest spots in all Ohio for a quiet home, a place in which to rear children and educate them for useful calling in life. It was over eighty-six years ago that Bishop Chase selected this beauty spot in Knox county for college purposes. He was location seeking and on the afternoon of July 22, 1825, stood on the trunk of a fallen tree and said, "Well, this will do." At that instant was fixed the destiny of Kenyon College, which during all of these four score and more years has blessed the whole world with the students who have been trained here. Many of the great men of the nation have gone forth from the buildings of this college. The grounds of the large campus are indeed charming to behold, be it whatever season one visits the place. In summer the grass-carpeted lawns, the native forest kings, the thick wooded spots, the gravel and cement walks. the style of architecture, all proclaim beauty and purity. CHAPTER XXVII. HARRISON TOWNSHIP. The date of organizing Harrison township was March 9, 1825. It was named in honor of that illustrious general and statesman, William Henry Harrison, who made it possible for this whole northwestern country to become settled by white men, he being an Indian fighter and peacemaker with tribes thus disposed. It is in the second tier of townships from both the east and south lines of the county. It is bounded on the east by Butler, on the south by Clay, on the west by Pleasant and College and on the north by Howard township. Its population in 1890 was, according to United States official returns, 622 ; in 1900, it was 588 and in the last federal census (1910) it was placed at 575. Once heavily timbered, it has now been largely cleared off and cultivated. The farms are excellent and of high price. The township still has a large amount of good timber, of the best Ohio species. It is a well watered township, having many small streams and springs within its borders. There are none of the Indian mounds found in some of Knox county's townships. Its northwestern corner is crossed by the Kokosing river, while Indian Field run is counted the main stream. This takes its source in Butler township, runs west to near the center of Harrison, flows north into the Kokosing river. At the mouth of this stream the Indians had cleared a large tract of timber land, on which much corn was raised annually, and the stream was so named for this fact. In the northwestern portion is Barney's run, which flows north to Howard township and falls into the Kokosing river. As late as 1880 a small beaver dam was to be seen spanning the Indian Field run, on Simon Dudgeon's farm. The northwestern part of this township is traversed by the Cleveland, Mt. Vernon & Columbus railroad. When the first white men came in the Indians were numerous, and for a number of years after that they would come from Greentown and Upper Sandusky to hunt. The old Indian trail from Greentown to the Wakatomika passed through Harrison township, and bands of Indians were frequently seen passing through, after the ending of the war of 1812-14. It was also much traveled by white men before better highways were made. It was over this route that Gen. Lewis Cass passed after he was made governor of Michi- KNOX COUNTY, OHIO - 317 gan territory, on going from his home in Muskingum county to Detroit. Once he is known to have halted for the night, with three other gentlemen, at the home of Simon Dudgeon, a pioneer of Harrison township. It is believed that Andrew Casto was the first man to take up his permanent abode in this township. He entered government land in the west part of the township. It is claimed by others that Jeremiah Biggs was the first to locate here. It is certain that he settled in the township in 1808, on section 16. He said when he came, "Deer were as plentiful as sheep, the wolves made night hideous and the Indians still lurked in the dense forests." He reared a family of eleven children, one of whom, a son, was born in this township in 1812. When this pioneer man moved here he used to receive letters from his old home in Pennsylvania, addressed "To Jeremiah Biggs on Owl Creek, State of Ohio." One of these messages was still in the possession of John Biggs, a son, in 1880. The father died in 1844. The Dudgeons were a stalwart Irish family, who emigrated from Ireland, where Simon was born, in 1776. He sailed for the United States in 1801, having but a single English shilling for a start in the New World. Another prominent pioneer was John Schooler, a Pennsylvanian, born near Carlisle, in 1770. He moved to Beaver county, that state, in the year he became twenty-six years old, coming to Harrison township, this county, in 1818. In 1822 he entered over four hundred acres of land here. In '1831-32 he was a member of the Ohio Legislature from Knox county. In the latter part of the eighteenth century he partook of all the hardships of a soldier in the Indian warfares and finally enlisted in the American cause in the war of 1812-14. He was a noted hunter, a brave soldier and laid down the burdens of life in 1853. The Harrods were also noted pioneers, being among the very first to settle in Knox county. Michael Harrod moved to Harrison township soon after the first white men entered the township. About 1810 came Arthur Fawcett, a native of Ireland, and settled in what was then a dense wilderness in Harrison township. He met with a singular loss by secreting a thousand dollars in his milk-house loft, for safe keeping, hut, alas, one night a thief took it and he was never caught. or even known. A Pennsylvania Dutchman, named Daniel Ullery, born in 1790, located in the township in 1817. George Lepley, another Pennsylvanian who aided in the first work of development here. was the only one from that part of the East who settled here, living in 1881. He came from Somerset county in 1807, settled 318 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. in Butler township and moved to Harrison in 1812. He served through the war of 1812-14. William Green. an early pioneer in Ohio, settled in the south part of Licking county in 1804, and in Harrison township in 1824. He died in 1855. The Horns are another numerous family in this section. Benjamin Horn came from Pennsylvania in 1818 and Joseph in 1820. The family was noted for their longevity and thrift. In 1815 came Nathaniel Ross. from Greene county, Pennsylvania. and it is believed that he was the first man in Knox county to advocate the abolition of slavery, 'hence met with bitter opposition. He was also among the first to adopt the religious views of Alexander Campbell. At that time it was as much of a stigma and disgrace to be known as an 'advocate of Campbell's doctrine as it was to be an abolitionist. But times have materially changed—the slaves are all free and the Disciples church, founded by Campbell, is among the strongest in Ohio. The great "Burlington wind storm" of May 18, 1825, passed through this township and destroyed much property for Mr. Ross, among others, in Harrison township. Again on September 2, 1846, another terrible wind, taking on the proportions of a tornado or cyclone, destroyed some of his outbuildings, and a log falling upon his daughter, Rachel Ann, a young lady of sixteen years, caused her instant death. The Lybarger family, though not early in this section of the county, were prominent in the day in which the township was being really developed from its wilderness state. They came- from Bedford county, Pennsylvania, locating here in 1819. Others whose names should go down in history as early comers in Harrison township were Isaac Coan, Hugh Miller, Paul Welker, Silas Ralston, Wendell Melker, John Wolf, John Troutman, Israel Dillon, Benjamin Ellis. Jacob Hayes, Marvis and Asa Freeman, all, or nearly all, from Pennsylvania. FIRST EVENTS. Nathaniel Ross built the first brick house in Harrison township. The first road worked in the township was the highway leading from Mt. Vernon to Coshocton, which was laid out in 1808-9. The Gambier and Martinsburg road was surveyed out and worked several years afterwards. The first saw mill was constructed about 1833, by William Lepley, on Indian Field run. Here Mr. Lepley met his death. Simon Dudgeon erected the first and only grist mill in this township and this was on the same stream. KNOX COUNTY, OHIO - 319 About 1842 was established the first postoffice in Harrison township. It was known as Wolfe's office, after pioneer George Wolfe, the first postmaster. It was discontinued after ten years' service. In the seventies another office was established in the more central part of this township, known as Pipesville, established by Warren Pipes, who died and his daughter Anna Bell was appointed postmistress. Concerning the schools and churches, an account of these will be found in the general chapters treating on such topics. Union Grove cemetery was established in 1823, when the first burials occurred. CHAPTER XXVIII. HOWARD TOWNSHIP. Howard, originally a part of Union township, was made into a separate township March 9, 1825. For many years after the formation of the township government in this sub-division of Knox county the officers donated their services to the public. The township is situated in the second tier of townships from the north and the second from the eastern line of the county. The Pennsylvania system of railway runs through this township, cutting it into two right-angle triangles, with Howard village as a station point in about the center of the township. The surface of this township is generally rolling and somewhat broken at the ravines. Much of the soil is a heavy, yet quite gravelly, loam. The bottom lands, especially along Owl creek and the Big and Little jelloway streams, produce immense crops of both corn and wheat. Timber still abounds, which has been left from the once great and almost universal forests of Knox county. The principal stream is Owl creek, passing through the territory from about the center of the south side and courses through Howard north and east, leaving the township near the southeast corner. Big Jelloway creek enters the northeast corner of Howard from Brown township, flows southwesterly, empties into Owl creek, near the village of Howard. Another stream is Little Jelloway (both named for the old Indian by this name), which comes in from the northwest and joins Big Jelloway near its mouth. Then there are Barney's run and Schenck's run, tributaries of Owl Creek. These streams make Howard township one of the best watered and drained sections of Knox county. There is one small Indian mound in the township, situated on the old farm of Worthington Shipley. There was found by the pioneer band, a permanent Indian camp in this township. at the mouth of Indian Field run. Here the Indians had years gone by cleared away the timber and annually raised corn, and continued to after the settlement was effected a year or so. The two Jelloway creeks and Owl creek made it a desirable camping and hunting place, and none were quicker to recognize this than the red men. There was a noted Indian, a sub-chief of the Delawares, named Tom Jelloway, who remained in the county several years after the other members of the tribes had gone from the coun- KNOX COUNTY, OHIO - 321 try. He became much attached to the white settlers and adopted their manner of dress and modes of living, as far as possible. He made his living mainly by selling brooches and other Indian-made trinkets to the whites. The Critchfields and Walkers bought many of his wares, and this gave him some money and provisions. Critchfield was a “mighty hunter" and it is told of a truth that one night he heard a fat hog squealing in the thicket near his house, and upon seizing his gun and going to the spot found the hog in the tight embrace of a large bear. He had to shoot three charges from his gun before the bear was silenced in death. His carcass was rendered out and produced ten gallons of oil. On another occasion Benjamin Critchfield and brother Isaac were out hunting wild turkeys. They heard the cry of a panther, which was in the top of a tree, near where they were standing. They each dreaded to fire the first shot, but it was finally agreed upon that Isaac should shoot first, who, as he was an excellent marksman, rarely missed his shot. He deliberately aimed and fired. The ball penetrated the animal's brain and he fell from the tree dead. He proved to be one of enormous size, measuring seven feet from tip to tip. This is said to have been the only panther ever killed in Knox county by a white man. EARLY SETTLERS. Concerning the first whites to penetrate this township with a view of effecting a settlement, it is believed that Abraham Welker came in prior to any other person. He emigrated from Harrison county, Ohio, in 1806 or 1807, locating his farm on the Indian fields, near the stream of the same name. From all appearances this land had been cultivated many generations by the Indian tribes, in their most approved methods, which were indeed a shiftless way to farm. He was thus saved much hard work in the clearing off of the timber, as other settlers always had to do in this county before they could raise a crop. When he came there were but three or four families living on Owl creek, in Butler township. The Indians were encamped near his cabin. His younger children were more used to seeing Indians than they were white men, and seemed afraid when a white person approached the premises. Mr. Welker died in the township in 1820. Paul Welker, another early settler, came but a little later than Abraham to the township, and settled in the south part. When he came. so thinly settled was that part of Knox county that he believed himself almost "monarch of all he surveyed," and was out one day in the timber chasing a deer into a swamp. when he was startled by the sound of an ax. Not deeming it possi- (21) 322 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. ble that a white man was there he quietly made his way to the spot where he believed an Indian was hacking away at a tree, when lo and behold it was pioneer Simon Dudgeon, of Harrison township, whom he had never met before. No other family in the township, if indeed in Knox county, were so numerous as the Critchfields. There were five brothers in one family, Nathaniel, Isaac, John, Joseph and William, who emigrated from Maryland to this township in 1807-8. Several had been soldiers in the Revolutionary war, hence were well fitted to endure the hardships of opening up a farm in a heavily-wooded section of the country. Today their descendants can be numbered by the scores in this and adjoining counties. Joseph Critchfield came here a single man, but soon went to Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and there married, procured two horses, one for himself and one for his bride, packed a few (very few) articles of furniture and cooking utensils onto the horses' backs, and started for their new home in the wilds of Knox county, Ohio. Thus it was ordained that the Pennsylvanians should subdue and make to blossom like the rose what was then but a wilderness. Coming in then, and a little later, were such amen as Isaac Dial, Uriah and Marvin Tracy, James Logue, James Wade, Benjamin Ellis, Philip Dial, George Lybarger, Jesse Enlon, John Stedman. Then in the thirties came John Hull, Henry Eckenrode, George McFarland, John Durbin, Thomas McElroy, John Cassill, Martin Engel, Amos Workman, H. H. McArtor and James Berry. Pennsylvania, Maryland; Virginia and New England furnished almost all of this hardy pioneer band who took the first steps toward making Howard township what it is today. DISTILLERIES OF THE TOWNSHIP. Every one drank whisky in those times—almost every one! All well people did and most of the invalids took a "little for the stomach's sake." At one time there were no less than nine distilleries in Howard township. One was owned by a Mr. Hawn and the building, which stood not many years since, was near Milwood and used for a barn. Much of the whisky was consumed at home, while if any was to be spared, it was sent by wagon to Newark and Mt. Vernon and shipped to other points. This was then a very respectable line of business and ministers. of the gospel all took their drink before engaging in service, as it "braced" them up for a hard day's work. Vast indeed is the change since the first workings of the old Sons of Temperance in this state and this year 1911, when all one hears is "wet" or "dry" counties. KNOX COUNTY, OHIO - 323 The first bridge to span the waters of Jelloway creek was constructed in 1830. The first saw and grist mill was put in operation in 1815 by Nathaniel Critchfield. It was on the Little Jelloway creek, whose waters were then sufficient to propel the saw and turn the buhrs for grinding corn. Stephen Workman was first to operate a threshing machine in the township, this being either 1838 or 1839. Benjamin Critchfield made the first brick residence in the township. The church and school history of Howard township appears in the general chapters of this volume and are well worth the reader's perusal. In 1910 there were repotted 875 people in Howard township, which was about one hundred less than in 1900. VILLAGE OF HOWARD. Howard is the only village in the township. It was platted in 1836, and named Kinderhook. Henry Warden erected the first house and Ross Arbuckle was the first hotel keeper. Some were added to the trading place, until the census of 1880 gave it as having a population of one hundred and fifty. A mutual fire insurance company was formed here in 1863. It was made a stock company in 1868, with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars, but in the latter part of the seventies it was compelled to close up its business, for lack of support among the farmers, in whose interest it had been started. The present status of Howard may be summed up as follows: The postoffice here was established in about 1840 and made a money order office in 1886. A free rural delivery route was established in April, 1902. another about the same date, and route No. 3 in 1904. The office was robbed in 1904 of about six hundred dollars, which the government lost. The robbers unlocked the front door and entered and then blew up the safe. The same time others were robbed in the county. The store in which the office is kept was robbed three times after this. The amount of business done in this office in 1910 was one thousand two hundred and twenty-five dollars and forty-one cents. There are three mails each way, daily. Among the postmasters here may be recalled Jesse Henry, James Penhardwood, F. J. Critchfield, W. H. Ralston. 1885. E. A. Wolfe, appointed 1890 and succeeded by Joseph Critchfield. who held till March, 1894, and was followed by E. A. Wolfe, who resigned in favor of J. W. Humbert. who commenced in May, 1897. and continued until May. 1901, when came into office Joseph Critchfield, the present incumbent. The present business interests are as follows : 324 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. General dealers, Eli A. Wolfe, J. H. Westrich & Company. J. W. Humbert; grain, seeds and flour. Wolfe Grain and Seed Company ; blacksmiths, C. J. Penhorwood, James V. Lantz ; livery, Norrick & Wolfe ; undertakers, Wolfe & Critchfield ; hotel, John Ralston; physicians, Coleman & Buxton ; cement block work, William C. Ely ; building contracting, Clinton Purdy ; meats, J. H. Norrick. The gas pumping station for the Mohican Oil and Gas Company is located at Howard and is among the largest in the country. The Howard Cereal Mills, a roller process milling plant, is only about one mile outside the village. It is on the waters of the Little Jelloway creek, which is dammed by a concrete or cement dam. The public schools here are excellent. They have a three-course high school grade. The building has four spacious rooms. It was erected in 1905 at a cost of six thousand dollars. The district was bonded for this amount, but all told the building cost seven thousand, one hundred dollars.